Land of Zion

13/10/2023

🙏🏼🇮🇱

30/08/2023

LAND OF ZION STORY
JESUS’S TOWN

On the northernmost shores of the Sea of Galilee, nestled at the base of the slopes of the picturesque Mount of Beatitudes, lies the ruins of a small village, a “k’far” in the Hebrew language, that many believe was the hometown of the prophet Nahum.

Why?

Because “k’far Nachum” (pronounced keh-Far na-Khoom) means quite literally, “Village of Nahum”. Of course, after a few translations from Hebrew to Greek to English, we’re simply left with Capernaum, the town of Jesus or, in Hebrew, Yeshua.

“I thought Jesus was from Nazareth,” you may be thinking. True, and despite Jesus of Nazareth having been born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, the book of Matthew tells us He left Nazareth and lived in Capernaum by the Sea, in the same village where Peter and Andrew had their fishing business and homes! (Matt 4:13)

You know how much I love walking around Israel with my Bible open. It’s because of places like Capernaum! On my first visit to Israel, Sarah and I walked into town reading from the book of Mark…

“They (Simon, Andrew, James, John, and Jesus) went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching…” (Mark 1:21)

We had just walked that same path! About 50 yards away from the entrance stands a 4th Century synagogue with multiple areas excavated down to the previous synagogue: exposing the very stones on which Jesus would have stood! It was here “the people were amazed at His teaching and authority!” (v22) It was here that Jesus rebuked an unclean spirit! (vs 23-26)

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…Before this trip, I couldn’t have told you where Capernaum was. Somewhere around Galilee I would have guessed. But now, when I read anything about Capernaum, I can feel the breeze off the water, smell the blossoms in the trees, and I know what sunrises and sunsets could have looked like from Peter’s front door!

…to finish the story, visit www.landofzion.org/stories

Then join me in Capernaum in November 2024!

03/08/2023

Where Jesus Walked!

What did Jesus mean when He said “Peace, be still”?

Read about this and my first impressions of the Sea of Galilee in this ‘Land of Zion Story’…

Then let’s go to Israel together in 2024!

www.landofzion.org/stories/galilee

23/06/2023

The infamous showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal took place on Mount Carmel. The God of Israel showed up convincingly and brought about the end of a 42-month drought!

In this Land of Zion Story, we’ll visit this very mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and learn about this dramatic contest.

www.landofzion.org/stories/Carmel

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20/04/2023

Herod the Great built it. Pontius Pilate lived here. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned and preached here for two years! Simon Peter baptized the Roman Centurion Cornelius, the first Gentile follower of Jesus, here!

In this Land of Zion Story, we’ll dive a little deeper into a story about a king who refused to give glory to God. Right here in Caesarea’s Amphitheater that still stands today.

Landofzion.org/stories/caesarea

Photo: David Kiern

22/03/2023

Jesus walked these dusty streets, He ate in these rooms, He prayed in these gardens, He was beaten in these halls, and He died and rose again in this very city.

In this Land of Zion Story, we’ll walk with our Savior through Jerusalem from His Last Passover to a very Empty Tomb.

landofzion.org/stories/tabletotomb

(Link in IG profile)

15/03/2023

MAZEL TOV!🎉

One of our “Land of Zion” families learned they are expecting a baby and had to postpone their trip to Israel with us next February…which means…despite having just sold out this week, we now have room for SEVEN MORE!

Visit landofzion.org before they’re gone! 😃

Prayers lifted for a safe pregnancy KR! 🙏🏼

09/03/2023

DID YOU KNOW you can journey through the very tunnel King Hezekiah dug 2,700 years ago?! The adventure is always full of laughter, singing, and usually a little splashing. But, HOW the tunnel was accomplished, and what it teaches me, is worth recounting!

In this Land of Zion Story, we’ll journey to the City of David, underground, deep into Hezekiah’s Tunnel! Have your flashlights ready!

landofzion.org/stories/tunnel

22/02/2023

Reading the words of Jesus ON location?

Worshiping with foreigners sharing a SINGLE word?

Learning how to BETTER pray for my Jewish brothers and sisters?

These moments all happened in one place…

In this Land of Zion Story, we’ll journey North to the Galilee, to the Mount of Beatitudes.

landofzion.org/stories/themount

16/02/2023

So many strong memories from my visits to the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, I squeezed a couple of them in my most recent Land of Zion Story!

landofzion.org/stories/gardentomb

26/01/2023

There is no place in the world I find more enchanting or breathtaking than the Sea of Galilee. Its combination of beauty and Biblical history are unrivaled.

In my latest “Land of Zion Story”, we’ll journey North to the Yam Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee), and learn about what Jesus may have meant when He commanded the waters to BE STILL!

landofzion.org/stories/galilee

Photo by David Kiern

(In lieu of leaving a comment, consider taking a moment to praise God for His absolute greatness. “There is none like You!”)

10/01/2023

Visit landofzion.org/stories to read about Ein Gedi, the gorgeous desert oasis where David hid from King Saul, and learn how it got its name!

28/11/2022

Along the banks of the Northern Galilee shore grows the Ziziphus Spina Christi, or Christ’s Thorn Jujube, a thorny tree whose branches were most likely used for the crown of thorns woven in mockery for Jesus by the Roman Soldiers. Boasting flexible branches with long, sturdy thorns that can grow up to three inches in length, it was a sobering sight to see, and unexpected to encounter as we navigated the quiet landscape of Jesus’ home base of Capernaum.

Learn more about Capernaum and our first visit: subscribe to the Land of Zion Stories email now!

LandofZion.org/subscribe

21/11/2022

The Sea of Galilee is my favorite region on the planet. It’s not only where our Savior chose to live out His days on this earth, but it’s stunningly gorgeous!!
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Few moments can match the time I “walked on the water” SUP Boarding with my friend Joshua Aaron. 😆

Come experience Israel with us in 2024! Visit LandofZion.org

14/11/2022

Taking my ten-year-old son (Nicky) to Israel in 2019 was a deep and powerful experience for both of us. As guests of this was far more than just a “trip”, it was paradigm shifting. Now, when Nicky reads his Bible, he can see it, feel it, taste it, smell it, hear it! It’s not fiction like Narnia or Middle Earth, as wonderful as they are, it’s real!

Consider bringing your family and join ours as we experience the Land of the Bible in February 2024!

LandofZion.org

30/10/2022

30/10/2022